Deployable wing for an aircraft
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorsTHOMAS E. KEAVNEY, JOHN C. RUFINO
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for selectively increasing a wing area of an aircraft having a fuselage with an interior space includes an inflatable wing moveable between a stowed condition located in the interior space and a deployed condition located outside the interior space. A plurality of reels is secured to the aircraft. A plurality of suspension lines connects the wing to the reels. At least one reel is operable to unwind a corresponding suspension line to allow the wing to inflate to the deployed condition exclusively by ram air generated by movement of the aircraft. A method of use for a deployable wing is also provided.
Claims22
An apparatus for selectively increasing a wing area of an aircraft having a fuselage with an interior space, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable wing moveable between a stowed condition located in the interior space and a deployed condition located outside the interior space;
- a plurality of reels secured to the aircraft;
- and
- a plurality of suspension lines connecting the wing to the reels, at least one reel being operable to unwind a corresponding suspension line to allow the wing to inflate to the deployed condition exclusively by ram air generated by movement of the aircraft.
An aircraft comprising:
- an outer mold line on a fuselage of the aircraft;
- an interior space within the fuselage;
- an inflatable wing moveable between a stowed condition, wherein the wing is substantially contained within the interior space and a deployed condition, wherein the inflatable wing is located wholly outside the outer mold line, in the ambient space, the inflatable wing including substantially planar flexible upper and lower wing panels being attached together at an aft edge thereof and including space vertically therebetween, when the wing is in the deployed condition, to form a wing interior configured to accept, and thus become inflated by, ram air flow;
- a plurality of reels secured to the aircraft within the interior space;
- and
- a plurality of selectively vertically extending suspension lines connecting the wing to the reels, at least one reel being selectively operable to extend a corresponding suspension line to allow the wing to inflate to the deployed condition exclusively by ram air flow generated by movement of the aircraft, and at least one reel being selectively operable to retract a corresponding suspension line to control deflation of the wing and return of the wing into the stowed condition.
A method of use for a deployable wing for an aircraft having a fuselage with an interior space, the method comprising:
- providing an inflatable wing selectively movable between stowed and deployed conditions, the wing having an open fore edge and a substantially closed aft edge and a wing interior located laterally therebetween, the wing being secured to the aircraft at least by a plurality of suspension lines connecting the wing to a plurality of reels in the interior space;
- substantially containing the wing within the interior space when the wing is in the stowed condition;
- and
- exposing the open fore edge of the wing to ram air generated by movement of the aircraft to allow the wing interior to inflate with the ram air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.